Photograph frame



June 5, 1945- J. H. FOX

PHOTOGRAPH FRAME Filed Oct. 16, 1943 INVENTOR.

w m f 5 a. m/

m w v F Patented June 5, 1945 Joseph H. Fox, Bronx, N. Y.

Application Octoberilfi, 1943, Serial No. 506,607

7 Claims.

The invention here disclosed relates to frames for holding photographs.

.Special objects of the invention are to provide a frame into which a photograph may be slipped and which will have a prop forming an integral part of the same, adapted to be pulled out and bracedin that relation for supporting the frame in an upright position.

Other important objects are to provide a blank which can be folded and secured over the back of apiece of glass or other transparent material toprovide the pocket construction for receiving thephotograph and to provide, in addition, the

other features of propand brace for securing the prop.

Further objects will appear as the specification proceeds.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the following specification illustrates one present commercial embodiment of the invention. Structure, however, may be modified and changed in various ways, all within the true intent and broadscope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. l in the drawing is a plan of the blank forming-the body of the'frame, with the folds indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the edge strips folded inwardly over the back forming panel.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the completed article.

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical and horizontal sectional views, Fig. 5 being taken as on substantially the plane of line 55 of Fig. 4.

The blank shown in Fig. 1 is a generally rectangular shaped piece of cardboard or the like having vertical fold lines I, 8 along the edge portions and-a bottom fold line 9 in continuation of the lower edge l0.

These fold lines define edge strips l I, I2 which are folded inwardly over the side margins of the back piece I 3, as shown in Fig; 2, and a bottom flap M which folds upwardly over the front face of the-back piece on line 9 to occupy a position between the infolded edge strips, as indicated in Fig. 3.

This folding of strips H and I2 in against the front face of the back piece provides a desired picture holding space between the back piece and an overlying cover of glass or the like.

The central portion of the back panel I3 is cut across on a line I5 substantially in register with the bottom fold line 9 and on upwardly convergent lines I6 to form a cutout ll hingedly connected at the top with the-back panel by parallel horizontally extending weakened fold lines I8.

The bottom tab I4 is shownas having a narrowerextension l9 foldable on horizontal lineiZfl and having a lugextension 2| which will enter the crescent shaped opening 22 in the prop l1.

This extension I9, is shown asof less width than the prop ll, so that it maybe folded rearwardly out through-theopening left by the cutout. I

The other-parts of the frame comprise a glass orother transparent front plate '23 and an apertured face plate 24. v

The face plate 24 may be of any ornamental characterand issecured over the glass to constitute the true frame portion of the article.

The back plate l3 with the infolded edge strips H, l2 and-upwardly folded bottom strip I4 is fastened over the back of the glass, with the three inturned strips lying flat against the glass to space the back plate substantially the thickness of a photograph and form a three sided .pocket 25, open at'the top at 25 to freely receive an inserted photograph.

The parts can'be secured together in the relation described in various ways. In the example, theface plate is'made up of a'flat'frame'tl of cardboard or similar material covered by a layer 28 of ornamental paper or the like, andthe latter is shown in'FigsB, 4 and 5 as extended rearwardly about the edges of the article and secured adhe sively or otherwise over the edgeportions of the back plate. 3

Before fastening the edge securing strip 28 across thebottom, the leg or prop I1 is withdrawn and the stripsecured directly over the backof the upwardly folded bottom strip l4, substantially as indicated'in Figs. 3 and 4. This provides arecess or seat at-29 for the lower edgeof theprop, enabling it to fold fiat so that it does not add any bulk and does not project where it might be caught or torn.

The complete frames can be shipped flat, as in Fig. 3. When ready for use, the prop I1 is withdrawn and thebrace l9 pulled out and the lug 2| on the end of the same inserted through the opening 22. Thephotograph is then slipped into the pocket .25through the opening 26 across the top of the same, into fullyseated relation where it will be accurately positioned on all three sides by the edges of-the inturned side strips 1 l l2 and bottom strip Id.

The article is attractive in appearance, simple and inexpensive in construction, readily manufactured and easily assembled.

While above referred to and described as a frame for holding photographs, it is evident that the invention applies as well to other forms of frames and easel constructions. For example, the

back piece shown in Fig. 1 may be used as a frame and easel structure for supporting a mirror or the like. In such case, it would not be necessary to provide the pocket 25, for holding a photograph. Hence the side folding strips H and I2, Fig. 1, would not be needed and might be entirely omitted from the blank. Then the back piece would be secured over the back of the mirror with the bottom strip [4, turned up as in Fig. 3 and secured in this fashion as by the edge strips 28.

To set up the mirror so constructed, the prop l'l, would simply be opened out and the brace turned down into interlocked engagement therewith, the same as heretofore described and as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

What is claimed is:

1. A photograph frame, comprising a front plate, a back piece having inwardly folded opposed edge strips and a bottom strip inwardly folded between the inner edges of said infolded edge strips, an outwardly hinging brace attached to said bottom strip, a prop hingedly attached to said back piece and engageable by said outwardly folding brace and an attaching strip extending about the side and bottom edge portions of said front plate and back piece, said prop being an integral portion of said back piece and having the lower end of the same cut out of the back piece above said bottom strip and said edge securing strip being secured to the back face of the upwardly folded back strip beneath the lower end portion of the prop and thereby leaving a recess at the bottom arranged to receive the lower end portion of the prop.

2. A back piece for a frame construction, comprising a single unitary blank having inwardly foldable side strips, a bottom strip foldable upwardly between the lower edge portions of the inwardly folded side strips, an integral prop partially severed from the back piece down to the fold line of the bottom strip and a brace extension on the free edge of the bottom strip having a hinging axis in line with the free edge of the bottom strip, said brace extension being of less width than the prop and thereby adapted to hinge back through the opening left by removal of the prop from the back piece.

3. A back piece for a frame construction, comprising a single unitary blank having inwardly foldable side strips, 9. bottom strip foldable upwardly between the lower edge portions of the inwardly folded side strips, an integral prop partially severed from the back piecedown to the fold line of the bottom strip and a brace extension on the free edge of the bottom strip having a hinging axis in line with the free edge of the bottom strip, said brace extension being of less width than the prop and thereby adapted to hinge back through the opening left by removal of the prop from the back piece, said brace extension having an edge lug and said prop having an opening to receive said edge lug.

4. A back piece for a frame construction, comprising a single unitary flat blank having a bottom strip foldable upwardly against the front surface of said back piece, an integral prop above said bottom strip partially severed from the back piece down to the fold line of said bottom strip and a brace extension on the free edge of said bottom strip having a hinging axis in line with the free edge of the bottom strip, said brace extension being of less width than the prop and thereby adapted to hinge back through the opening left by removal of the prop from the back piece into position for bracing connection with the prop and means for effecting interconnection of the brace and prop in said rearwardly extended relation.

- 5. A back piece for a frame construction, comprising a single unitary flat blank having a bottom strip foldable upwardly over the face of the said back piece against the front surface of said back piece, an integral prop partially severed from the back piece down to the fold line of said bottom strip and a brace extension on the free edge of said bottom strip having a hinging axis in line with the free edge of thebottom strip, said brace extension being of less width than the prop and thereby adapted when said brace extension is folded upwardly with said bottom strip, to hinge back through the opening left by removal of the prop from the back piece, said brace extension having an edge lug and said prop having an opening to receive said edge lug.

6. An article of the class described, comprising a front plate, a back piece of cardboard secured over the back of said front plate, said back piece having a bottom strip folded up in between the lower portion of the back piece and said front plate, a brace extension hingedly connected with said bottom strip, a locking lug at the end of said brace extension, a prop cut from the midportion of the back piece above said bottom strip and of greater width than said brace extension, to thereby leave space where it is cut from the back piece, wide enough to pass said brace extension, said brace extension being turned back through said opening into position for engagement with the lower end portion of the prop and said prop having a recess interlockingly receiving said lug on the end of the brace extension into position for bracing connection with the prop and means for effecting interconnection of the brace and prop in said rearwardly extended relation.

"I. A back piece for a frame construction, comprising a flat blank having a bottom strip foldable upwardly over the face and against the front surface of the blank, an integral prop partially severed from the blank down toward the fold line of said bottom strip and a brace extension on the free edge of said bottom strip and arranged to be carried by the upward folding of the bottom strip into position over the lower portion of the prop, said brace extension being of less width than the prop and thereby adapted to pass back through the opening left by severance of the prop forming material from the blank and said brace extension having a hinge connection with the upwardly folded bottom strip for enabling said brace extension to be hinged backward through the prop opening into bracing'engagement with the lower end portion of the prop.

JOSEPH H. FOX. 

